Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 3
3
The Department is not clear how, in a centralised procurement model, it will retain the...
Recommendation
The Department is not clear how, in a centralised procurement model, it will retain the people, skills and knowledge in local authorities that were critical to success in the superfast programme. The Department recognises that although it now intends to undertake procurement directly, it will still need the commitment and expertise accumulated previously within local authorities to support delivery 6 Improving Broadband under the gigabit programme. The Local Government Association has called for additional annual funding of £30 million for digital champions to co-ordinate delivery at a local level and to provide the additional capacity needed within highways and planning teams to support an accelerated pace of activity. The Department cannot give any reassurance that local authorities will get additional funding to retain their expert resources at a time when local government finances are under severe pressure from the pandemic. Recommendation: The Department should set out in its Treasury Minute response to this report, what steps it is taking to support the retention of knowledge, skills and delivery expertise in local authorities so that the change in approach does not cause delays to the future programme.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 3.2 Local authority teams are of significant value in supporting delivery of the new programme and be nefits realisation. 3.3 The government’s Barrier Busting Task Force is advising local authorities across the UK, including via its Digital Connectivity Portal. It also works with industry, local authorities and landowners to identify and remove barriers to deployment, including those that require changes to the law. 3.4 The department is working closely with the Local Government Association, through the ADEPT group, to agree the delivery model, specific roles and resource requirements for UK Gigabit. 3.5 The department is meeting with senior officials in each of the existing local authority partners to confirm alignment between the programme and their own strategic objectives. In general, local authorities have expressed commitment to supporting investment in local digital infrastructure. The department will monitor the situation in the light of ongoing financial pressures 3.6 The department’s programme delivery team includes a proactive field team based in the regions. Each local authority has a named resource within this team who works with them to continually assess options for increasing broadband coverage from across the department’s portfolio of interventions/programmes (Superfast, Local Full Fibre Networks, Rural Gigabit Connectivity, Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme) and the new UK Gigabit Programme. It also includes supporting them with other funding opportunities for digital infrastructure such as Region Deals, Town Deals and the £900 million Get Building Fund.